RAIPUR: A team of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which inspected the Swami Vivekananda Airport on Monday, a fallout of the incident of a buffalo straying at Surat airport recently, has pointed out at heightened "bird activity" around the runway and advised the authorities to take preventive steps to avoid a bird hit.

According to sources a three-member team of DGCA conducted a detailed inspection of the airport's runways to check for fencing to prevent entry of stray animals into the sensitive take-off and landing areas.

While the fences were found to be in order, the team found "too much bird activity", which could cause a "hit", said sources. The inspection was fallout of the Surat incident where a stray buffalo came in the path of a Spice Jet aircraft that was taking off.

The accident, though averted, had exposed the safety standards at the airports. Sources said, following the incident, the DGCA, on the directions of the Civil Aviation ministry, had compiled a list of 18 airports in the country that face 'wildlife hazard'.

Subsequently inspections are being carried out at all the identified airports and the authorities are being advised to take adequate steps to ensure safety. Sources said most of airports have boundary walls but people residing in nearby villages or colonies break these to let their cattle enter and graze on the grass, posing immense threat to the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.

Though such activities are against the law and are a cognizable offence under Section 10(1B) of the Aircraft Act, 1934, action is seldom taken against the violators.

The team has advised the authorities to take a proactive role in ensuring that laws are implemented and ensure that there are no illegal slaughterhouses and garbage in the vicinity of airports.

These all lead to increased bird activity, posing a serious threat to aircraft during approach/take off, said officials, Confirming the inspection, Anil Rai, director, Raipur airport, said "As far as boundary wall is concerned, there is no problem and all steps are being taken to control animal activities".

In May 2013 a stray dog had walked on to the runway, forcing a Jet airways pilot to abort the landing. The ATF, which was informed by the pilot, took over 10 minutes to clear the runway, with security personnel chasing the dig around, and aircraft kept circling the airport till then.